Audrey Hepburn's ex, director Mel Ferrer, dies

In this Jan. 24, 1993 file photo, Mel Ferrer is shown at the funeral for his ex-wife, actress Audrey Hepburn in Tolochenaz, Switzerland. A family spokesman says actor-director-producer Mel Ferrer, who starred in scores of movies and directed his late wife, Audrey Hepburn in numerous others, has died at age 90. Mike Mena says Ferrer died Monday, June 2, 2008, at his ranch near Santa Barbara, Calif.[Agencies]

Mel Ferrer, the tall, darkly handsome star of such classic films as "Lili," "War and Peace" and "The Sun Also Rises," as well as producer and director of movies starring his then-wife, Audrey Hepburn, has died at age 90.

Ferrer died Monday at a Santa Barbara convalescent home, his son Mark Ferrer told The Associated Press on Tuesday. He had been in failing health for the past six months and had recently moved to the home from his nearby ranch in Carpinteria, his son said.

Ferrer's most impressive film role came in 1953 in "Lili." He played a crippled carnival puppeteer with whom a French orphan (played by Leslie Caron) falls in love.

He also won critical acclaim as Luis Bello in Robert Rossen's 1951 depiction of the public and private life of a bullfighter in "The Brave Bulls," based on a Tom Lea book, and starred opposite Hepburn in 1956's "War and Peace."

In later years, he turned more to directing and producing for movies and TV.

"Acting, at times, depresses Mel," Hepburn once said. "Directing lifts him. He's so relaxed at it that I just know it is the job he loves."

He and Hepburn became engaged in 1954 when they appeared together in the New York play "Ondine." They married later that year in Burgenstock, Switzerland.